Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 4:13 (New English Translation)

But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”

This is from the history of when Moses was speaking with God at the burning bush. God had chosen Moses to return to Egypt and bring His people out of slavery and to the Promised Land. Moses, er, was a bit reluctant.

I find it comical the words attributed to Moses in the different English translations:

New International Version – But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

New Living Translation – But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send someone else.”

It is as if Moses is about to say, “Lord, I can’t go, the goat ate my homework.”

And, by the way, if you are looking for a way to ask your boss to have someone else do something that you, er, are a bit reluctant to do, use the King James Version:

And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

That will confuse the boss.

Levity aside, I have no doubt that God has heard the same “please send someone else” a few million times since Moses. Look at the opportunity presented to Moses – be a hero to a people God has chosen. Be recorded in history and have people look to you for inspiration for several thousand years. How could he turn that down?

But I look at the marvelous things God has for me to do, and I often reply, “please send someone else.” Yes, God has patience with us His creation.